Post by Diarist on Feb 28, 2017 1:23:59 GMT 1
I stayed for about 10 minutes at Fort Belvedere then drove to St. James's Palace. They had been expecting me because General Deverell had called them. It was now just after 04:30 and King Edward wouldn't be arriving before 09:00. I was assigned a small room and called the duty officer at the MoD to inform them how to contact me. I then called 10 Downing Street to do the same but instead I was asked to go there. Winston is already there and I should be there too. I called Sally then told the St. James's staff where I'll be in case someone calls. At Downing Street I informed Winston of my morning so far. The PM walked in and wished us all a good morning. "Have you talked to King Edward this morning, Bob?"
"No, sir. General Deverell called me on His Majesty's behalf."
"And what has General Deverell told you?"
"That King George V has died and King Edward VIII will be flying to St. James's Palace this morning for his Accession Council."
"Why are you in uniform?"
"King Edward will be in his Parachute Regiment uniform too, Sir. There will be more people from the regiment present."
"A show of solidarity I presume."
"Something along those lines, Sir. Will there be a cabinet meeting afterwards and will His Majesty also be invited?"
"That is the plan. Why were you and St. James's?"
"To be there if King Edward had any questions about my instructions."
"Which are?"
"My wife is with Wallis Simpson and my intention is to smuggle her into the Palace before dawn so that she can watch from one of the windows. She understands that His Majesty will be busy today and that they can't be seen together in public. I don't know what is planned afterwards, sir."
"Good. You need to get back to St. James's. Thank you for being here."
Fifteen minutes later I was back at the Place and telephoned Fort Belvedere and John Gort. Time was passing excruciatingly slow but eventually King Edward arrived at 08:50 with Prince Albert, Princess Elizabeth and General Deverell. I informed King Edward that Wallis is here with Sally and that we have to go to Downing Street after the Council. He went to talk with Wallis for 10 minutes. I offered Prince Albert my condolences and talked with him until King Edward returned.
At 09:45 King Edward left the building with many of us behind him. I joined the group of soldiers from the Royal Parachute Regiment. We were almost at company strength and strongly contrasted the Grenadier Guards company. They had Dress uniform with bearskins and a Enfield rifle while the Paras were in service uniform, maroon beret and armed with a Thompson SMG. At precisely 10:00 the following was proclaimed:
Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George the Fifth, of Blessed and Glorious Memory, by whose Decease the Imperial Crown of Great Britain, Ireland, and all other His late Majesty's Dominions is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David : We, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm, being here assisted with these of His late Majesty's Privy Council, with numbers of other Principal Gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and citizens of London, do now hereby, with one Voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart, publish and proclaim, That the High and Mighty Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, is now, by the Death of our late Sovereign of happy Memory, become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord Edward the Eighth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India: To whom we do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience, with all hearty and humble Affection: beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Prince Edward the Eighth, with long and happy years to reign over Us.
At 11:30 King Edward and I arrived at 10 Downing Street for a full cabinet meeting.
"No, sir. General Deverell called me on His Majesty's behalf."
"And what has General Deverell told you?"
"That King George V has died and King Edward VIII will be flying to St. James's Palace this morning for his Accession Council."
"Why are you in uniform?"
"King Edward will be in his Parachute Regiment uniform too, Sir. There will be more people from the regiment present."
"A show of solidarity I presume."
"Something along those lines, Sir. Will there be a cabinet meeting afterwards and will His Majesty also be invited?"
"That is the plan. Why were you and St. James's?"
"To be there if King Edward had any questions about my instructions."
"Which are?"
"My wife is with Wallis Simpson and my intention is to smuggle her into the Palace before dawn so that she can watch from one of the windows. She understands that His Majesty will be busy today and that they can't be seen together in public. I don't know what is planned afterwards, sir."
"Good. You need to get back to St. James's. Thank you for being here."
Fifteen minutes later I was back at the Place and telephoned Fort Belvedere and John Gort. Time was passing excruciatingly slow but eventually King Edward arrived at 08:50 with Prince Albert, Princess Elizabeth and General Deverell. I informed King Edward that Wallis is here with Sally and that we have to go to Downing Street after the Council. He went to talk with Wallis for 10 minutes. I offered Prince Albert my condolences and talked with him until King Edward returned.
At 09:45 King Edward left the building with many of us behind him. I joined the group of soldiers from the Royal Parachute Regiment. We were almost at company strength and strongly contrasted the Grenadier Guards company. They had Dress uniform with bearskins and a Enfield rifle while the Paras were in service uniform, maroon beret and armed with a Thompson SMG. At precisely 10:00 the following was proclaimed:
Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George the Fifth, of Blessed and Glorious Memory, by whose Decease the Imperial Crown of Great Britain, Ireland, and all other His late Majesty's Dominions is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David : We, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm, being here assisted with these of His late Majesty's Privy Council, with numbers of other Principal Gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and citizens of London, do now hereby, with one Voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart, publish and proclaim, That the High and Mighty Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, is now, by the Death of our late Sovereign of happy Memory, become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord Edward the Eighth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India: To whom we do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience, with all hearty and humble Affection: beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Prince Edward the Eighth, with long and happy years to reign over Us.
At 11:30 King Edward and I arrived at 10 Downing Street for a full cabinet meeting.